Kensington (Māori: Tawatawhiti) is a suburb of Whangārei, in Northland Region, New Zealand. It is about 2 kilometres north of the city centre. State Highway 1 runs through Kensington, The Western Hills form a boundary on the west, and Hātea River on the east.[3]
Kensington | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kensington Park Grandstand | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 35°42′36″S 174°18′50″E / 35.710°S 174.314°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Whangārei |
| Local authority | Whangarei District Council |
| Electoral ward | Whangārei Urban Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 311 ha (768 acres) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 3,340 |
| Whau Valley | Otangarei | |
  Kensington  |
Mairtown | |
| Woodhill | Regent |
The area includes Whangarei Quarry Gardens,[4] a 24 hectare public garden set around an artificial lake.[5]
History
editIn 2018, Whangarei District Council completed improvements to the Kensington Avenue and Kamo Road intersection, following delays since 2014 in acquiring properties.[6]
In April 2020, Police investigated the death of a five-month-old baby at a home in Kensington.[7]
The following month, Police recovered a stolen vehicle with a baby inside from a property in Kensington.[8] The vehicle had been stolen from a nearby petrol station before being abandoned.[9]
A major storm struck Kensington in July 2018.[10] It caused extensive damage to the Whangarei Quarry Gardens,[4] and at least one home was evacuated.[10]
In August 2020, the first stage of a $15.5 million development opened in Kensington. The complex includes a medical centre, gym, physio, food outlets and an early childhood centre.[11] The property was owned by Northland Regional Council,[12] and was previously the site of a Woolworths and Countdown supermarket,[13] but had been vacant since 2014.[14]
Demographics
editKensington covers 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,340 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 1,074 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3,201 | — |
| 2013 | 3,012 | −0.87% |
| 2018 | 3,240 | +1.47% |
| 2023 | 3,339 | +0.60% |
| Source: [15][16] | ||
Kensington had a population of 3,339 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 327 people (10.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,497 males, 1,833 females and 9 people of other genders in 1,422 dwellings.[17] 4.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 528 people (15.8%) aged under 15 years, 549 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,467 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 792 (23.7%) aged 65 or older.[16]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 72.3% European (Pākehā); 29.9% Māori; 5.5% Pasifika; 11.9% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.4%, Māori language by 6.9%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 12.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 35.6% Christian, 2.0% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 2.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.2%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 444 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,479 (52.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 759 (27.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 222 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,266 (45.0%) people were employed full-time, 357 (12.7%) were part-time, and 93 (3.3%) were unemployed.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 24. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
- ^ a b Pearse, Adam (22 July 2020). "Northland storm: Whangārei Quarry Gardens facing potential $100,000 bill". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
- ^ "Whangarei Quarry Gardens". NZ Gardens Trust. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Lambly, Annette (24 October 2018). "New suburban retail and health centre for Kensington's old supermarket site". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Northland.
- ^ Clent, Danielle (28 April 2020). "Death of 5-month-old baby in Northland investigated by police". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ Ali, Imran (21 August 2020). "Whangārei carjacking second in just over three months". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
- ^ Kronast, Hannah (6 May 2020). "Horrifying ordeal as baby taken in a vehicle stolen from Whangarei petrol station". MediaWorks New Zealand. Newshub.
- ^ a b Williams, Caroline (18 July 2020). "'It will be extensive and expensive': Civil Defence surveys Northland's clean-up job after flooding and slips". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "$15.5m redevelopment of former Whangārei supermarket site opens first stage". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate. 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Planned Whangarei medical and retail hub". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald. 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Former Whangārei supermarket site gets $15.5m upgrade". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate. 28 August 2019.
- ^ Laird, Lindy (29 September 2018). "Development of high profile Kensington site planned". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kensington (Whangarei District) (106600). 2018 Census place summary: Kensington (Whangarei District)
- ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Kensington (Whangarei District) (106600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.